CHARLIE MULGREW last night urged Celtic’s in-demand stars to follow his lead and pledge their futures to the Parkhead club.

The defender penned a new four-year deal this month while contract talks are ongoing with the likes of striker Gary Hooper and midfielder Victor Wanyama.

Premier League vultures are circling with Hooper, Wanyama and keeper Fraser Forster all on the wishlists of clubs down south.

Mulgrew has seen the grass is not always greener after a miserable spell at Wolves and reckons there is no better place to be than Celtic with the Hoops back in the Champions League and top of the SPL.

He said: “I think that’s in the club’s best interest, to keep this team together. We are young and growing – and they’ll do their best to keep us together.

“If this team stays together and the manager stays here I’m sure we’ll grow together.

“There are few better places to be than at Celtic playing in the Champions League. It’s a massive club and when teams come to Celtic Park, even in the Champions League, a lot of them are blown away by the atmosphere.

“They soon know how big Celtic is. When you are playing well in the Champions League, speculation is always going to happen. But our main focus is Celtic and doing our best for this club.

“I still had a bit of time on my contract so it was a no-brainer for me to sign.

“I’m really happy here, playing in the Champions League – there is no better place to be.”

Mulgrew is convinced there is even more to come from this squad – if they stick together.

And he reckons progress in the Champions League will help the club keep their stars.

He said: “We’re still inexperienced at Champions League level, having played a couple of games this year.

“But we’ve got good results and we believe in ourselves.

“Of course the money will help the club. We can only get better – that’s a certainty.

“If we stay together who knows what we might achieve? I’m sure the club will do their best to keep the players here.”